Heat sink with vapor chamber

ABSTRACT

A heat sink includes a heat spreader for absorbing heat from a heat-generating source, a tank covering on the heat spreader and hermetically engaging with the heat spreader, a first wick layer formed on an inner face of the tank, a second wick layer formed on an inner face of the heat spreader, and a supporting member located between the tank and the heat spreader. A chamber is defined between the tank and the heat spreader and contains working fluid therein. The supporting member is arranged in a wave shape and supports the first wick layer and the second wick layer.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The disclosure relates to a heat sink with vapor chamber and, more particularly, to a heat sink with vapor chamber having firm structure.

2. Description of Related Art

Nowadays, numerous heat sinks are used to dissipate heat generated by electronic devices. A vapor chamber type heat sink is a common structure of the heat sinks. Generally, the heat sink includes a plate shaped heat spreader thermally contacting the electronic device. A vacuum chamber is defined in the heat spreader. A wick structure is formed on an inner face of the chamber, and a working fluid is contained in the chamber. As the electronic device is maintained in thermal contact with the heat spreader, the working fluid contained in the chamber corresponding to a hotter location vaporizes into vapor. The vapor then spreads to fill the chamber, and wherever the vapor comes into contact with a cooler location of the chamber, it releases its latent heat and condenses. The condensate returns to the hotter location via a capillary force generated by the wick structure. Thereafter, the working fluid frequently vaporizes and condenses to form a circulation to thereby remove the heat generated by the electronic device.

However, the heat spreader of the heat sink is prone to deforming when subjected to an inner or outer pressure during use, which further results in the wick structure disengagement from the inner face of the chamber, adversely affecting the stability of the heat sink.

What is needed, therefore, is a heat sink which can overcome the limitations described.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the present embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is an isometric, assembled view of a heat sink in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is an isometric, exploded view of the heat sink of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a supporting member of the heat sink of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of FIG. 1, taken along a line IV-IV thereof.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a part V shown in FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-2, a heat sink in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure comprises a heat spreader 10, a tank 20 on the heat spreader 10, a first wick layer 30 disposed in the tank 20, a second wick layer 40 disposed on the heat spreader 10 and a supporting member 50 positioned between the first and second wick layers 30, 40.

Also referring to FIGS. 4-5, the tank 20 comprises a body 22 and a flange 24 circumferentially and outwardly extending from the body 22. The body 22 comprises a central plate 222 and four interconnecting sidewalls 224 integrally extending downwardly from the central plate 222. The heat spreader 10 has an edge thereof hermetically engaging with the flange 24 of the tank 20, thereby defining a chamber 26 between the heat spreader 10 and the tank 20. A working fluid (not labeled) is filled in the chamber 20.

The first wick layer 30 includes a central portion 32 and four interconnecting side portions 34 integrally extending downwardly from the central portion 32. The central portion 32 of the first wick layer 30 is formed on an inner face of the central plate 222 of the tank 20. The first wick layer 30 is a sintered wick layer which is formed from sintering metal power.

The second wick layer 40 includes a central portion 42 and four interconnecting side portions 44 integrally extending upwardly from the central portion 42. The central portion 42 of the second wick layer 40 is formed on an inner face of the heat spreader 10 and enclosed by the tank 20. The side portions 44 of the second wick layer 40 has outer faces adhered on the four sidewalls 224 of the body 22 of the tank 20, and inner faces engaging with the side portions 34 of the first wick layer 30, thus the first wick layer 30 is accommodated in the second wick layer 40, and the first wick layer 30 and the second wick layer 40 are in communication, therefore, the working fluid can flow between the first wick layer 30 and the second wick layer 40 via capillary forces generated therefrom. The second wick layer 40 is a meshed wick layer which is formed from a mesh.

Also referring to FIG. 3, the supporting member 50 is integrally made from a sheet with a high strength. The supporting member 50 is arranged in a wave shape. The supporting member 50 includes a plurality of first supporting portions 52 contacting the central portion 32 of the first wick layer 30, a plurality of second supporting portions 54 contacting the central portion 42 of the second wick layer 40 and a plurality of connecting portions 56 interconnecting the first and second supporting portions 52, 54. The first supporting portions 52 are parallel to the second supporting portions 54. Each first supporting portion 52 has a first flat face contacting the central portion 32 of the first wick layer 30. Each second supporting portion 54 has a second flat face contacting the central portion 42 of the second wick layer 40. A region between each supporting portion and two adjacent connecting portions 56 at two ends thereof has a trapezoid cross section. The first and second supporting portions 52, 54 divide the chamber 26 into a plurality of spaced cavities 260. The connecting portions 56 each define a plurality of spaced, rectangular holes 560 in communication with two adjacent cavities 260, so that the vaporized working fluid can flow through the holes 560 of the connecting portions 56.

In use, the heat spreader 10 of the heat sink thermally contacts and absorbs heat from a heat-generating source. The working fluid in the chamber 26 is heated and vaporized to flow upwardly through the holes 560 of the connecting portions 56 to reach the central plate 222 of the tank 20. The vaporized working fluid exchanges heat with the central plate 222 and then is condensed to liquid. The condensing working fluid returns to the heat spreader 10 via the first wick layer 30 and the second wick layer 40.

According to the disclosure, the supporting member 50 in the chamber 26 can support the heat spreader 10 and the tank 20 to prevent the first and second wick layers 30, 40 from deforming, and prevent the first and second wick layers 30, 40 from disengaging from the heat spreader 10 and the tank 20; thus, the heat sink in accordance with the present disclosure can have a normal function even when it is subjected to a large internal vapor pressure or an external vibration.

It is believed that the disclosure and its advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being preferred or exemplary embodiments of the invention. 

1. A heat sink comprising: a heat spreader for absorbing heat from a heat-generating source; a tank covering on the heat spreader and hermetically engaging with the heat spreader; a chamber defined between the tank and the heat spreader and containing working fluid therein; a first wick layer formed on an inner face of the tank; a second wick layer formed on an inner face of the heat spreader; and a supporting member located in the chamber between the tank and the heat spreader, the supporting member having a wave shape and supporting the first wick layer and the second wick layer.
 2. The heat sink of claim 1, wherein the supporting member is integrally made from a sheet, and defines a plurality of holes therein for the working fluid flowing therethrough.
 3. The heat sink of claim 2, wherein the supporting member divides the chamber into a plurality of cavities in communication with each other via the holes of the supporting member.
 4. The heat sink of claim 3, wherein the supporting member comprises a plurality of first supporting portions contacting the first wick layer, a plurality of second supporting portions contacting the second wick layer and a plurality of connecting portions interconnecting the first supporting portions and the second supporting portions, the plurality of hoes in the supporting member being defined in the connecting portions.
 5. The heat sink of claim 1, wherein the first wick layer is received in and in communication with the second wick layer.
 6. The heat sink of claim 1, wherein the tank comprises a body, the body comprising a central plate and a plurality of interconnecting sidewalls circumferentially extending from the central plate, the second wick layer comprising a central portion formed on the inner face of the heat spreader and a plurality of interconnecting side portions circumferentially extending from the central portion, the side portions of the second wick layer having outer faces adhered on the sidewalls of the body, the first wick layer being formed on the inner face of the central plate of the body.
 7. The heat sink of claim 6, wherein the tank further comprises a flange circumferentially extending from the body, the heat spreader having an edge thereof hermetically engaging with the flange of the tank.
 8. The heat sink of claim 6, wherein the first wick layer comprises a central portion formed on the inner face of the central plate of the body and a plurality of interconnecting side portions circumferentially extending from the central portion and engaging with inner faces of the side portions of the second wick layer.
 9. The heat sink of claim 1, wherein the first wick layer is a sintered wick layer.
 10. The heat sink of claim 1, wherein the second wick layer is a meshed wick layer.
 11. A heat sink comprising: a heat spreader; a tank covering on the heat spreader and hermetically engaging with the heat spreader; a chamber defined between the tank and the heat spreader and containing working fluid therein; at least a wick layer formed on an inner face of the chamber; and a supporting member located between the tank and the heat spreader; wherein the supporting member has a wave shape and supports the at least a wick layer.
 12. The heat sink of claim 11, wherein the supporting member is integrally made from a sheet, and defines a plurality of holes therein for the working fluid flowing therethrough.
 13. The heat sink of claim 12, wherein the supporting member divides the chamber into a plurality of cavities in communication with each other via the holes of the supporting member.
 14. The heat sink of claim 13, wherein the supporting member comprises a plurality of supporting portions contacting the at least a wick layer and a plurality of connecting portions interconnecting the supporting portions, the plurality of hoes in the supporting member being defined in the connecting portions.
 15. The heat sink of claim 14, wherein a region between each supporting portion and two adjacent connecting portions at two ends of the supporting portion has a trapezoid cross section.
 16. The heat sink of claim 11, wherein the number of the at least a wick layer is two, a first wick layer being formed on an inner face of the tank, a second wick layer being formed on an inner face of the heat spreader, the first wick layer being received in and in communication with the second wick layer. 